Equipment
Jon Rahm joins Callaway tour staff in multiyear deal
Today, Callaway Golf announced that Jon Rahm, the number two ranked player in the world, has joined its tour professional staff in a multiyear agreement.
Rahm worked extensively with the company’s tour department to dial in the specs for each of his new clubs, and will officially make his Callaway staff debut this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
For the year’s opening event, the Spaniard will use Callaway prototype woods and irons. He will eventually use the brand’s MD5 Jaws wedges, but they may not be in the bag in Hawaii. Rahm will also be gaming a Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball. While he’ll still have his TaylorMade Spider X putter in the bag, Rahm will move to an Odyssey putter in 2021.
Speaking on joining Callaway, Rahm, who shot a course record 59 at Silverleaf with his new clubs, said
“I’m so happy to be joining Callaway, and I can’t wait to start the year. The equipment is already performing well for me, and in my first round with the new setup,
“I shot a course record 59 at Silverleaf. I have confidence in my new Callaway clubs – and especially the golf ball, which has really impressed me during the testing process.”
Rahm used Callaway and Odyssey equipment at Arizona State University, where he won 11 tournaments while playing for Head Coach Tim Mickelson. The 26-year-old has the second-most wins in school history, behind fellow Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson.
On the new signing, Callaway President & CEO, Chip Brewer said
“We’re proud to welcome Jon Rahm as the newest member of our Tour Staff. He’s one of the very best players in the world, and he’s a proven winner on golf’s biggest global stages. We’ve admired Jon for many years, going back to his college days when he first used our equipment. We’re excited to see him playing Callaway and Odyssey again, as he looks to take his game to yet another level.”
In addition to using Callaway and Odyssey equipment, Rahm will wear apparel from TravisMathew throughout 2021.
Editor’s note: We will follow up this piece with a full Rahm WITB and details from the tour truck when the Spaniard’s club and shaft recipe is fully cooked.
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X
Irons: TaylorMade Proto (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0 (4-9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-K @59) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X3 Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour
Ball: 2024 TaylorMade TP5x Buy here.
(Photo courtesy of TaylorMade)
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s WITB in the forums.
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The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Dennis Beach
Jan 4, 2021 at 10:37 pm
Maybe its not even about the equipment. TM just didn’t want to give him what he thought he was due. There is no loyalty to one brand anymore. Players in the past would play the same equipment(clubs, ball) brand forever. If it is equipment, he could do worse.
Jack Nash
Jan 4, 2021 at 4:39 pm
I fully expect that other than the “look” the irons won’t be any different than his TM’s. As someone said earlier none of Rahm’s equip will be in my bad anytime soon.
Dennis Beach
Jan 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Nothing he plays helps me. Did my own research on everything I play in my bag. Ping g410SFT driver,older Cally Diablo 3 wood, 2 Snake Eyes hybrids(18-21), a full set of hybrid irons(24-46),from a company not so many people have ever heard about. 2 Cleveland CBX2 wedges, and a Cleveland putter. I play a Cally 2-piece ball. Not one club that a pro uses, will ever find its way into my bag, because they want it that way.
Imafitter
Jan 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm
I wish him luck as I like watching Jon play. Not surprised based on his relationship with the Mickelson family. Some do well and some don’t when they change equipment, but I hope he is successful.
Dave r
Jan 4, 2021 at 1:28 pm
None of them use retail anything.
Tank
Jan 4, 2021 at 11:56 am
I really didn’t expect him to say anything but give glowing comments about his NEW SPONSOR!
Dyson Bochambeau
Jan 4, 2021 at 10:15 am
He will struggle like most guys who switch equipment
Funkaholic
Jan 4, 2021 at 12:04 pm
What a ridiculous comment.
gunny
Jan 4, 2021 at 12:15 pm
No it’s really not at all. Look at players who switch 14 clubs and the ball while at their peak. There’s almost always a long drought period and some don’t ever get back to where they were. Think Lydia Ko and Graeme McDowell. Lydia made things worse by moving away from her Coach as well, but her fall has been significant.
Blades Forever
Jan 4, 2021 at 6:07 pm
Agreed, An other example is Justin Rose.
Smith
Jan 4, 2021 at 9:27 am
I’m just glad the headline didn’t reference the 59. Guy made it to #1 in the world with TM – not saying they’re any better than Callaway, but not sure there’s a ton of improvement that can be offered be the change.
Brandon
Jan 4, 2021 at 9:17 am
Sounds like he has the new Apex pro in the bag along with the Epic Max. If so, we should see those hit the conforming list this week.
JT
Jan 4, 2021 at 9:10 am
The newest gen chrome soft x at retail is legit, I put it head to head with PV1x and loved it. Was an easy change. Not surprised to see JR go with it right away and give it so much positive feedback.
Jacon
Jan 4, 2021 at 10:46 am
Almost none of the staffers play the retail ball; there are something like 40 tour-noyl variations.
The most common ones I see from low-level tour players are the Diamond CS-X and the Star CS-X, which are firmer and more spinny, respectively.
JM
Jan 4, 2021 at 11:14 am
That’s correct. None use retail ball.
Benny
Jan 4, 2021 at 5:10 pm
All the Tour gear comes off the exact same manufacturing line as the retail stuff guys. You’d be suprised to know we do play the same. The Pros just receive more definied and specified gear with specific perameters which each OEM pull from the same bucket of goods. Only time its “different” is when they do Prototypes. Acushnet was a customer of mine. I also knew a couple who worked on the ProV line. There is no magic Tour Only plant or line except at Cameron, or the company Cameron uses.